Store snapshots throughout your analysis

Test the impact of each variable by making changes to the cell ranges. Use Lugano to record each of these versions.

Easily navigate through your work

Quickly find previous versions and select to view the data.

Drag and drop to test new data combinations

Combine versions to create new scenarios. Resequence your versions to better communicate your findings. Compare, review and adjust in minutes.

Visualise data with waterfall charts

Create waterfall charts to see how each variable in each scenario affects the final result. Make as many as you want, whenever you need.

Run as many scenarios as you like

Quickly execute multiple scenarios to test theories and impacts.

Report on process and outcomes

Create reports so you can easily find the information you need when presenting to managers or executives. If there are changes, automatically update reports to match.

System requirements

Lugano is a COM add-in for Microsoft Office Excel.

Operating systems

  • Microsoft Windows 7 with Service Pack 1 (SP1) or later
  • Microsoft Windows 8/8.1
  • Microsoft Windows 10

Microsoft Excel versions:

  • Excel 2010
  • Excel 2013
  • Excel 2016
  • Excel 2019/Excel 365

Lugano solves these common problems…

Scenarios require continuous time-consuming modifying of the model with pre-loaded lookup values and indirect structures. Continuously reworking models increases the validation effort and the risk of introducing errors. With Lugano you record new version values directly into the model, change any cell at its logical location, create versions on the fly, and then collate your version to create scenarios.

No more impenetrable black-box outputs from all-in-one go calculations. Lugano simplifies the interpretation of complex outcomes by reducing them to simple bite size changes. Lugano’s step-by-step approach makes it easy to demonstrably validate complex and counter-intuitive results. Lugano’s reports will provide the assurance to satisfy management.

No manual preparation of data logs. Manual processes are slow and unreliable. Lugano logs all your changes automatically. You can check and review all the changes with confidence. No more omissions. Full audit logs are created automatically.

No more idiosyncratic scenario structures which only the author can fathom. Lugano applies a systematic method to scenarios. New users will know what to expect. Users can replay scenarios and follow their dynamic evolution.

Chop and change versions, edit data and rerun your scenarios effortlessly. Your automated scripts will faithfully replay all your steps and re-create your outputs. No longer will so called “small changes” delay and tangle up your analysis.

No more bloated models. As layers of scenarios are inserted, the models become filled with earlier assumptions and the logic confusing. Lugano’s method and tools allow scenarios to grow and scale up with ease. Lugano will handle hundreds of scenarios or version with thousands of cells. Your will only be limited by your ingenuity, available memory, and processor speed.

No programming required. Powerful reporting commands create reports and charts with ease. Capture the data of any section of your model at any point for reporting or analysis.

Screenshot of Excel spreadsheet model with its of Lugano multi-functional Scenario form

Lugano features

With Lugano you can add scenarios quickly without changing your model, record & report all your changes, create reports for auditing and approval. Break down the results of the scenario into simple bite size steps for intuitive understanding. Specific features include:

Versions

Versions represent the values of the cells grouped in a selected range name. They are the building blocks for scenarios. Your versions are captured, by you, when you update your data. Versions are also used to define the cells/ranges the user wished to include in their outputs.

  • Create versions directly while updating the model with new version data.
  • Create multiple versions as required. The number of versions is only limited by the available memory and processor speed.
  • The size and location of versions is specified by the user. Select any range in any open workbook.
  • Version may include constant and/or formulas.
  • Auto-suggest version labels, based on model text labels and/or date.
  • Use existing range names or create new range names on the fly.
  • Select the version and go to the source data and target range in the model.
  • Change the range name size of existing versions in the model and scenarios.
  • Update existing version data.
  • Save your version data to the model workbook or to separate dedicated scenario workbooks.
  • Version data is protected to prevent inadvertent changes.
  • Review your version data in the scenario workbook.
  • Directly edit your version data.
  • Delete or rename versions, rename range names, add, or edit labels and descriptions.

Scenario

A scenario is a collection of versions or commands. During scenarios execution each version or commands is executed sequentially as a step change. The relevant ranges are then replaced with the saved version data.

  • Create multiple scenarios as required. The number of scenarios is only limited by the available memory and processor speed.
  • Collate your versions into scenarios with mouse drag & drop.
  • Built complex scenarios with powerful reporting commands.
  • Execute scenarios and create reports as specified.
  • Single step through a scenario, effectively pausing the process to allow the user to explore the models during intermediate steps.
  • Set scenarios as subroutines.
  • Add, delete, move, and copy versions and commands within the scenario. Add or edit labels and descriptions.
  • Add, delete, move, and copy scenarios. Add or edit labels and descriptions.
  • Merge scenarios files.
  • Comprehensive validation and error reporting of mistakes or missing files.
  • Run scenarios in a protected sandbox environment targeting disposable workbook copies.

Commands

Commands are inserted into scenarios.

  • Control calculation mode.
  • Activate and de-activate commands, versions, or reports.
  • Stop execution.
  • Call and execute scenario subroutines.
  • Call and run user defined VBA code.
  • Create reports.
  • Control iterative calculation mode.
  • Update versions with calculated model results.
  • Target alternate workbooks.

Worksheet Snapshots

  • The SnapShot tool adds difference worksheets to any or all worksheets in your mode
  • The difference worksheet are easily rebuilt or reset to visually track the change made to your model.
  • Use the snapshot features in stand-alone manual mode or include them in your scenarios and reports.

Reports

Reports are workbook files which contain the results of the scenario calculation. Reports are created automatically after every step or any step as defined by the user.

  • Create log reports of input changes and output ranges.
  • Create charts of user defined inputs and/or outputs ranges.
  • All reports and charts include differential values between the current and last reported change.
  • All output ranges in reports and charts are defined by the user.
  • Create waterfall charts of any user selected cell value after any step.
  • Create difference worksheet reports of any worksheet showing the values in the worksheet before, after and the difference after any step change.
  • Use reports commands to copy intermediate or final model values to your reports.
  • Export tool to copy input, outputs, and chart report to PowerPoint slides.

Range Names

  • Use the specially developed Names Navigation form to list and locate all range names in all open workbooks.
  • Auto-identify and select range names by simple cell selection.
  • Filter or search the list of range names.
  • Tag, with boxes and labels, range names directly in the workbook.

Save and Archive Workings

  • One-click save and backup all active scenarios and all open workbooks to your user defined archive folders.
  • One-click save all active scenarios and all open workbooks.
  • All the data needed to reproduce your workings are saved in one folder for subsequent review or distribution.

Comparison of Lugano features with Excel’s Scenario Manager and
purpose-built scenario manager using Excel functions.

Lugano Excel Scenario Manager Purpose built
No model changes required. Add scenarios & versions to the Models as is. No model changes required. Add scenarios & versions to the Models as is. Purpose build using XLOOKUP(), OFFSET() or equivalent functions and/or VBA code.
Requires: more model building, constant rework, more time, and more validation.
Systematic and consistent approach to evaluating scenarios. Systematic and consistent approach to evaluating scenarios. Scenarios are idiosyncratic to each model.
Versions include constants and formulas. Versions include constant only. Versions include constants and formulas.
Scope to any worksheet in any open workbook. Scope to active worksheet only. Scope to any worksheet in any open workbook.
Number of versions and scenarios limited by available memory and processor speed. Only 32 cells are allowed in any scenario. Practical limitation. Adding ever increasing amounts of version structures to the models becomes cumbersome and ineffective. The scenario logic becomes opaque.
Version data may be saved outside of the model. Data may be stored either in the model or in separate Scenario Workbooks. Versions and scenarios embedded in the worksheet. Version could be structured to be in either the model or in separate workbooks.
Edit & update versions and scenarios using drag & drop and context drop down menus. Not available. Practical limitation. Requires rework and additional data space or VBA code. No quick easy tool.
Create scenario scripts, specify reporting/charting commands, take snapshots of worksheets with intermediate values. Not available. Requires VBA code.
Execute & log user defined VBA code. Not available. Requires VBA code.
Single Step execution of scenarios. You can review intermediate values and check for any problems. Not available. Requires VBA code.
Automatic log report of all inputs, outputs, and differences. Not available. Requires VBA code.
Includes difference values in reports and charts. Not available. Requires VBA code.
Automated static reporting of any range after any step. Only limited by available memory and processor speed. Only 32 cells, per scenario, may be included in the static summary report. All scenarios are reported which produces inflexible and opaque reports. Requires VBA code to copy dynamic outputs to static worksheets.
Automated static charting of any range after any step. Only limited by available memory and processor speed. Not available. Requires VBA code to copy dynamic outputs to static worksheets.
Collaboration: scenarios created separately and concurrently can easily be merged to the master scenario. Scenarios created separately and concurrently can be merged but will always be applied to the active worksheet regardless of its original scope. Collaboration: requires Co-Authoring and model uploading. Exposes users to issues arising from AutoSave On (cannot quit without saving) and Upload Failed (conflict/unsupported change) requiring manual fixes.

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